Touch sensor and display device including the same

ABSTRACT

A touch sensor includes a base layer including a sensing area and a non-sensing area, a plurality of touch electrodes disposed in the sensing area, a dummy electrode disposed between the touch electrodes, the dummy electrode including a plurality of dummy patterns spaced apart from each other, and an insulating layer disposed on the touch electrodes and the dummy electrode, in which the insulating layer includes at least one discontinuous pattern in an area disposed between adjacent dummy patterns.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from and the benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2018-0123400, filed on Oct. 16, 2018, which is herebyincorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND Field

Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate generally to a touchsensor and, more specifically, to a touch sensor having reducedvisibility and a display device including the same.

Discussion of the Background

Recent display devices have been being developed to provide aninformation input function in addition to providing an image displayfunction. The information input function of display devices may begenerally implemented by a touch sensor configured to receive a touch ofa user or a predetermined tool.

The touch sensor may be attached to one surface of a display panel thatmay display an image, or may be integrally formed with the displaypanel. The user may watch an image displayed on the display panel andpress or touch the touch sensor to input information.

The touch sensor may be applied not only to a planar display device butalso to a flexible display device, a curved display device, a foldabledisplay device, a bendable display device, etc.

To increase the degree of design freedom of the shape of displaydevices, the thicknesses of a display panel and a touch sensor may haveto be reduced, The above information disclosed in this Backgroundsection is only for understanding of the background of the inventiveconcepts, and, therefore, it may contain information that does notconstitute prior art.

SUMMARY

Applicant discovered that reducing the thickness of a display panel andtouch sensor can lead to deterioration of touch sensor sensitivity andincreased visibility of conductive patterns in the touch sensor by auser due to reflection of external light.

A touch sensor constructed according to exemplary embodiments of theinvention and a display device including the same are capable ofreducing a conductive pattern from being visible to a user and enhancingreliability of the display device. For example, irregular reflection ofexternal light generated in the areas of the touch sensor, such as thosedefined between the dummy fine lines, may be removed by destructiveinterference with external light reflection generated on the touchelectrodes.

Additional features of the inventive concepts will be set forth in thedescription which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the inventive concepts.

A touch sensor according to an exemplary embodiment includes a baselayer including a sensing area and a non-sensing area, a plurality oftouch electrodes disposed in the sensing area, a dummy electrodedisposed between the touch electrodes, the dummy electrode including aplurality of dummy patterns spaced apart from each other, and aninsulating layer disposed on the touch electrodes and the dummyelectrode, in which the insulating layer includes at least onediscontinuous pattern in an area disposed between adjacent dummypatterns.

The discontinuous pattern may include an uneven pattern recessed from afirst surface of the insulating layer toward the base layer.

The uneven pattern may extend to about half of a thickness of theinsulating layer or less from the first surface of the insulating layer.

A width of the uneven pattern may be about equal to or less than adistance between the adjacent dummy patterns.

The dummy electrode may be disposed on a planar surface, and the unevenpattern may be configured to irregularly reflect light incident on afirst area between the adjacent dummy patterns.

The insulating layer may be substantially flat in areas other than thearea including the uneven pattern.

The touch electrodes may include a first touch electrode including firsttouch patterns and first bridge patterns coupling the first touchpatterns to each other, and a second touch electrode including secondtouch patterns and second bridge patterns coupling the second touchpatterns to each other.

The first touch patterns and the second touch patterns may be disposedon the same layer, and any one of the first bridge patterns and thesecond bridge patterns are disposed on the same layer as the first touchpatterns, and the first bridge patterns and the second bridge patternsintersect with each other with an interlayer insulating layer interposedtherebetween.

The interlayer insulating layer may include an organic insulating layerincluding organic material.

The dummy electrode may be disposed on the same layer as the first andsecond touch patterns.

Each of the touch electrodes and the dummy electrode may have asubstantially mesh shape.

The dummy electrode may include a first dummy fine line extendingsubstantially in a first direction, a plurality of second dummy finelines extending substantially in a second direction intersecting thefirst direction, the second dummy fine lines being substantiallyparallel to each other, and a plurality of dummy mesh openings formed atintersections between the first dummy fine line and the second dummyfine lines.

A touch sensor according to another exemplary embodiment includes a baselayer including a sensing area and a non-sensing area, a first touchelectrode disposed in the sensing area and substantially extending in afirst direction, a second touch electrode including touch patternsspaced apart from each other along a second direction intersecting thefirst direction and a bridge pattern coupling adjacent touch patterns inthe second direction, a first insulating layer interposed between thebridge pattern and the touch patterns, a dummy electrode disposedbetween the first touch electrode and the touch patterns, the dummyelectrode including a plurality of dummy patterns spaced apart from eachother, and a second insulating layer disposed on the first touchelectrode, the second touch electrode, and the dummy electrode, in whichthe second insulating layer includes at least one discontinuous patternin an area disposed between adjacent dummy patterns.

The dummy electrode may be disposed on a planar surface, thediscontinuous pattern may include an uneven pattern recessed from afirst surface of the second insulating layer toward the base layer, andthe uneven pattern may be configured to irregularly reflect lightincident on an area between the adjacent dummy patterns.

The dummy electrode may include conductive fine lines intersecting eachother and has a substantially mesh shape.

A display device according to an exemplary embodiment includes a displaypanel configured to display an image, and a touch sensor disposed on thedisplay panel, and including a base layer disposed on the display panel,and including a sensing area and a non-sensing area, a plurality oftouch electrodes disposed in the sensing area, a dummy electrodedisposed between the touch electrodes and including a plurality of dummypatterns spaced apart from each other, and an insulating layer disposedon the touch electrodes and the dummy electrode, and including at leastone discontinuous pattern in an area disposed between adjacent dummypatterns.

A plurality of discontinuous patterns may be formed in the area betweenthe adjacent dummy patterns.

The discontinuous pattern may not overlap the dummy patterns.

The dummy electrode may be disposed on a planar surface, and thediscontinuous pattern may include an uneven pattern configured toirregularly reflect light incident on an area between the adjacent dummypatterns to cause destructive interference with light reflected by thetouch electrodes.

The dummy electrode may have a substantially a mesh shape and may beelectrically floated.

The dummy electrode may be disposed on the same layer as the first andsecond touch patterns.

The touch electrodes and the dummy electrode may each have a mesh shape.

The dummy electrode may include a first dummy fine line extendingsubstantially in a first direction, a plurality of second dummy finelines extending substantially in a second direction intersecting thefirst direction, the plurality of second dummy fine lines beinggenerally parallel to each other, and a plurality of dummy mesh openingsformed by intersecting the first dummy fine line and the second dummyfine lines with each other.

The display panel may include a substrate including a display area todisplay the image, and a non-display area provided on at least one sideof the display area, a pixel circuit layer disposed on the substrate,and including at least one transistor, a display element layer disposedon the pixel circuit layer, and including at least one light emittingelement to emit light, and an encapsulation layer disposed on thedisplay element layer.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of theinvention, and together with the description serve to explain theinventive concepts.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display device constructed accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the display device of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the display panel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the display module of FIG.2.

FIG. 5 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a representative pixel shownof FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the display panel of FIG.3.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the touch sensor of FIG.1.

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of the touch sensor of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a schematic enlarged plan view of portion EA1 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional views taken along line I-I′ andline II-II′ of FIG. 9 according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 11A is a schematic cross-sectional view of portion EA2 of FIG. 10.

FIGS. 11B and 11C are cross-sectional views the second insulating layerof FIG. 11A according to exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of the touch sensor of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a schematic enlarged plan view of portion EA3 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a schematic enlarged plan view of portion EA4 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line III-III′and line IV-IV′ of FIG. 14 according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of various exemplary embodiments or implementations of theinvention. As used herein “embodiments” and “implementations” areinterchangeable words that are non-limiting examples of devices ormethods employing one or more of the inventive concepts disclosedherein. It is apparent, however, that various exemplary embodiments maybe practiced without these specific details or with one or moreequivalent arrangements. In other instances, well-known structures anddevices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarilyobscuring various exemplary embodiments. Further, various exemplaryembodiments may be different, but do not have to be exclusive. Forexample, specific shapes, configurations, and characteristics of anexemplary embodiment may be used or implemented in another exemplaryembodiment without departing from the inventive concepts.

Unless otherwise specified, the illustrated exemplary embodiments are tobe understood as providing exemplary features of varying detail of someways in which the inventive concepts may be implemented in practice.Therefore, unless otherwise specified, the features, components,modules, layers, films, panels, regions, and/or aspects, etc.(hereinafter individually or collectively referred to as “elements”), ofthe various embodiments may be otherwise combined, separated,interchanged, and/or rearranged without departing from the inventiveconcepts.

The use of cross-hatching and/or shading in the accompanying drawings isgenerally provided to clarify boundaries between adjacent elements. Assuch, neither the presence nor the absence of cross-hatching or shadingconveys or indicates any preference or requirement for particularmaterials, material properties, dimensions, proportions, commonalitiesbetween illustrated elements, and/or any other characteristic,attribute, property, etc., of the elements, unless specified. Further,in the accompanying drawings, the size and relative sizes of elementsmay be exaggerated for clarity and/or descriptive purposes. When anexemplary embodiment may be implemented differently, a specific processorder may be performed differently from the described order. Forexample, two consecutively described processes may be performedsubstantially at the same time or performed in an order opposite to thedescribed order. Also, like reference numerals denote like elements.

When an element, such as a layer, is referred to as being “on,”“connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may bedirectly on, connected to, or coupled to the other element or layer orintervening elements or layers may be present. When, however, an elementor layer is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,”or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are nointervening elements or layers present. To this end, the term“connected” may refer to physical, electrical, and/or fluid connection,with or without intervening elements. Further, the D1-axis, the D2-axis,and the D3-axis are not limited to three axes of a rectangularcoordinate system, such as the x, y, and z—axes, and may be interpretedin a broader sense. For example, the D1-axis, the D2-axis, and theD3-axis may be perpendicular to one another, or may represent differentdirections that are not perpendicular to one another. For the purposesof this disclosure, “at least one of X, Y, and Z” and “at least oneselected from the group consisting of X, Y, and Z” may be construed as Xonly, Y only, Z only, or any combination of two or more of X, Y, and Z,such as, for instance, XYZ, XYY, YZ, and ZZ. As used herein, the term“and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items.

Although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. may be used herein todescribe various types of elements, these elements should not be limitedby these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element fromanother element. Thus, a first element discussed below could be termed asecond element without departing from the teachings of the disclosure.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “under,” “lower,”“above,” “upper,” “over,” “higher,” “side” (e.g., as in “sidewall”), andthe like, may be used herein for descriptive purposes, and, thereby, todescribe one elements relationship to another element(s) as illustratedin the drawings. Spatially relative terms are intended to encompassdifferent orientations of an apparatus in use, operation, and/ormanufacture in addition to the orientation depicted in the drawings. Forexample, if the apparatus in the drawings is turned over, elementsdescribed as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would thenbe oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplaryterm “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below.Furthermore, the apparatus may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90degrees or at other orientations), and, as such, the spatially relativedescriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, thesingular forms, “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Moreover,the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,”when used in this specification, specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/orgroups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one ormore other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof. It is also noted that, as used herein, the terms“substantially,” “about,” and other similar terms, are used as terms ofapproximation and not as terms of degree, and, as such, are utilized toaccount for inherent deviations in measured, calculated, and/or providedvalues that would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Various exemplary embodiments are described herein with reference tosectional and/or exploded illustrations that are schematic illustrationsof idealized exemplary embodiments and/or intermediate structures. Assuch, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, forexample, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to beexpected. Thus, exemplary embodiments disclosed herein should notnecessarily be construed as limited to the particular illustrated shapesof regions, but are to include deviations in shapes that result from,for instance, manufacturing. In this manner, regions illustrated in thedrawings may be schematic in nature and the shapes of these regions maynot reflect actual shapes of regions of a device and, as such, are notnecessarily intended to be limiting.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure is a part. Terms,such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should beinterpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning inthe context of the relevant art and should not be interpreted in anidealized or overly formal sense, unless expressly so defined herein.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display device DD according to anexemplary embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view ofthe display device DD of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the display device DD according to anexemplary embodiment may include a display module DM and a window WD.

The display device DD may be formed to have various shapes, for example,a substantially rectangular shape having two pairs of generally parallelsides. When the display device DD has a substantially rectangular shape,one pair of sides of the two pairs of sides may be longer than theother. As used herein, display device DD will be described as having asubstantially rectangular shape with a pair of long sides and a pair ofshort sides. The direction in which the long sides extend refers to afirst direction DR1, the direction in which the short sides extendrefers to a second direction DR2, and the direction perpendicular to thelong sides and the short sides refers to a third direction DR3.

At least a portion of the display device DD may be flexible, and thedisplay device DD may be folded along the flexible portion. As usedherein, the term “fold” may refer to a display device can change fromits original shape o another shape without being fixed thereto, and mayalso refer to being “folded” or “curved” along at least one specificline, e.g., a folding line, or “rolled” in a scroll manner.

The display device DD may include a display area DD_DA for displaying animage, and a non-display area DD_NDA provided on at least one side ofthe display area DD_DA. The non-display area DD_NDA may be an area onwhich an image is not displayed.

The display module DM may include a display panel DP and a touch sensorTS. The touch sensor TS may be directly disposed on the display panelDP. As used herein, the term “directly disposed” may refer to thatcomponents are formed through a continuous process except that one ofthe components adheres to another component by using a separate adhesivelayer. In some exemplary embodiments, another layer, such as an adhesivelayer or a substrate, may be interposed between the display panel DP andthe touch sensor TS.

The display panel DP may display arbitrary visual information, e.g., atext, a video, a photograph, and a two- or three-dimensional image.Hereinafter, the arbitrary visual information will be described as an“image”. The inventive concepts are not limited to a particular type ofdisplay panel so long as it can display an image. For example, aspontaneous emission display panel such as an organic light emittingdisplay (OLED) panel may be used as the display panel DP. In addition, anon-emissive display panel such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel,an electrophoretic display (EPD) panel, or an electrowetting display(EWD) panel may be used as the display panel DP. When the non-emissivedisplay panel is used as the display panel DP, the display device DD mayinclude a backlight unit to supply light to the display panel DP.

The touch sensor TS may be disposed on an image display surface of thedisplay panel DP, and may receive a touch input of the user. The touchsensor TS may recognize a touch event of the display device DD from thehand of the user or a separate input means. The touch sensor TS mayrecognize a touch event in a capacitive manner according to an exemplaryembodiment.

The window WD may be provided on the display module DM to protect anexposed surface of the display module DM. The window WD may protect thedisplay module DM from external impact, and provide an input surfaceand/or a display surface to the user. The window WD may be coupled withthe display module DM by an optical transparent adhesive OCA, forexample.

The window WD may have a multi-layer structure including at least one ofa glass substrate, a plastic film, and a plastic substrate. Themulti-layer structure may be formed through a continuous process or anadhesion process using an adhesive layer. The window WD may entirely orpartially have flexibility.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the display panel DP of FIG. 1according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematiccross-sectional view of the display module DM of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a display module DM according to an exemplaryembodiment may include a display panel DP and a touch sensor TS disposedon the display panel DP.

The display panel DP may include a display area DA and a non-displayarea NDA. The display area DA and the non-display area NDA of thedisplay panel DP may respectively correspond to the display area DD_DAand the non-display area DD_NDA of the display device DD. In otherwords, the display area DA of the display panel DP may correspond to thedisplay area DD_DA of the display device DD. The non-display area NDA ofthe display panel DP may correspond to the non-display area DD_NDA ofthe display device DD. In an exemplary embodiment, the display area DAand the non-display area NDA of the display panel DP may or may not beequal to the display area DD_DA and the non-display area DD_NDA of thedisplay device DD, respectively. For example, the display area DA andthe non-display area NDA of the display panel DP may be changeddepending on the structure and/or design of the display panel DP.

The display panel DP may include a driving circuit SDV, a plurality ofsignal lines, a plurality of pixels PXL, and a plurality of pads PD.

An area in which the pixels PXL are disposed may be defined as thedisplay area DA. In an exemplary embodiment, the non-display area NDAmay be defined along the periphery of the display area DA. Each pixelPXL may include a light emitting element and a pixel driving circuitcoupled to the light emitting element.

The driving circuit SDV may include a scan driving circuit. Hereinafter,the driving circuit SDV may also be referred to as the scan drivingcircuit SDV. The scan driving circuit SDV may generate a plurality ofscan signals and sequentially output the scan signals to a plurality ofscan lines SL, which will be described below. The scan driving circuitSDV may further output another control signal to the pixel drivingcircuit of each pixel PXL. The scan driving circuit SDV may include atleast one or more transistors that may be formed through substantiallythe same process for forming the pixel driving circuits of the pixelsPXL, e.g., through a low temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS)process or a low temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) process.

The signal lines may include scan lines SL, data lines DL, emissioncontrol lines EL, control signal lines CSL, and power lines PL. The scanlines SL may be coupled to corresponding ones of the pixels PXL, and thedata lines DL may be coupled to corresponding ones of the pixels PXL.Each of the emission control lines EL may be disposed substantiallyparallel to a corresponding one of the scan lines SL. The control signallines CSL may transmit control signals to the scan driving circuit SDVand overlap with the display area DA and the non-display area NDA. Thepower lines PL may be coupled to the pixels PXL and transmit a firstpower supply voltage to the corresponding pixels PXL.

The pads PD may be disposed in the non-display area NDA and coupled tofirst ends of the data lines DL, the control signal lines CSL, and thepower lines PL.

As shown in FIG. 4, the display panel DP may include a substrate SUB, apixel circuit layer PCL disposed on the substrate SUB, a display elementlayer DPL disposed on the pixel circuit layer PCL and electricallyconnected to the pixel circuit layer PCL, and a thin film encapsulationlayer TFE disposed on the display element layer DPL.

The substrate SUB may include an insulating material, such as glass orresin. Furthermore, the substrate SUB may include a material havingflexibility so as to be bendable or foldable, and have a single- ormulti-layer structure. For example, examples of the material havingflexibility may include at least one of the following: polystyrene,polyvinyl alcohol, polymethyl methacrylate, polyethersulfone,polyacrylate, polyetherimide, polyethylene naphthalate, polyethyleneterephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide, polyarylate, polyimide,polycarbonate, triacetate cellulose, and cellulose acetate propionate.However, the material of the substrate SUB may be changed in variousways, and the substrate SUB may also be made of fiber glass reinforcedplastic (FRP) or the like. As such, the substrate SUB according to anexemplary embodiment may include a flexible material.

The pixel circuit layer PCL may include a plurality of insulatinglayers, a plurality of conductive layers, and a semiconductor layer. Theplurality of conductive layers of the pixel circuit layer PCL may formsignal lines or a pixel driving circuit.

The display element layer DPL may include a light emitting elementconfigured to emit light.

The thin film encapsulation layer TFE may seal the display element layerDPL. The thin film encapsulation layer TFE may have a single layer or amulti-layer structure. The thin film encapsulation layer TFE may includea plurality of insulating layers covering the light emitting element. Inparticular, the thin film encapsulation layer TFE may include at leastone inorganic layer and at least one organic layer. For example, thethin film encapsulation layer TFE may be formed by alternately stackingthe inorganic layers and the organic layers. In some exemplaryembodiments, the thin film encapsulation layer TFE may be anencapsulation substrate, which is disposed on the display element layerDPL and joined to the substrate SUB by a sealant.

The touch sensor TS may include a plurality of touch electrodes and aplurality of sensing lines. Each of the touch electrodes and the sensinglines may have a single- or multi-layer structure.

The touch electrodes and the sensing lines may include indium tin oxide(ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), indium tin zinc oxide(ITZO), PEDOT, metal nanowires, and/or graphene. The touch electrodesand the sensing lines may include a metal layer made of, e.g.,molybdenum, silver, titanium, copper, aluminum, or an alloy thereof. Thetouch electrodes and the sensing lines may have an identical layerstructure or different layer structures. Detailed contents of the touchsensor TS will be described below with reference to FIG. 8.

FIG. 5 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a representative pixel PXL ofFIG. 3 according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates one pixel PXL disposed on an i^(th) row and a j^(th)column, and coupled to a j^(th) data line Dj, an i−1^(th) scan lineSi−1, an i^(th) scan line Si, and an i+1^(th) scan line Si+1, accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the pixel PXL according to an exemplaryembodiment may include a light emitting element OLED, and a pixeldriving circuit PC coupled to the light emitting element OLED andconfigured to drive the light emitting element OLED. The pixel drivingcircuit PC may include first to seventh transistors T1 to T7, and astorage capacitor Cst.

An anode electrode of the light emitting element OLED may be coupled tothe first transistor T1 via the sixth transistor T6. A cathode electrodeof the light emitting element OLED may be coupled to a second powersupply ELVSS.

The light emitting element OLED may emit light having a predeterminedluminance corresponding to current supplied from the first transistorT1. The voltage of a first power supply ELVDD to be applied to the powerline PL may be set to a voltage higher than that of the second powersupply ELVSS to allow current to flow to the light emitting elementOLED.

A source electrode of the first transistor T1 (driving transistor) maybe coupled to the first power supply ELVDD via the fifth transistor T5,and a drain electrode thereof may be coupled to the anode electrode ofthe light emitting element OLED via the sixth transistor T6. The firsttransistor T1 may control the current flowing from the first powersupply ELVDD to the second power supply ELVSS via the light emittingelement OLED in response to the voltage of the first node N1 connectedto a gate electrode thereof.

The second transistor T2 (switching transistor) is coupled between thej^(th) data line Dj and the source electrode of the first transistor T1.A gate electrode of the second transistor T2 is coupled to the i^(th)scan line Si. When a scan signal is supplied to the i^(th) scan line Si,the second transistor T2 may be turned on to electrically connect thej^(th) data line Dj to the source electrode of the first transistor T1.

The third transistor T3 is coupled between the drain electrode of thefirst transistor T1 and the first node N1. A gate electrode of the thirdtransistor T3 is coupled to the i^(th) scan line Si. When a scan signalis supplied to the i^(th) scan line Si, the third transistor T3 may beturned on to electrically connect the drain electrode of the firsttransistor T1 to the first node N1. Therefore, when the third transistorT3 is turned on, the first transistor T1 may be connected in the form ofa diode.

The fourth transistor T4 may be coupled between the first node N1 and aninitialization power supply Vint. A gate electrode of the fourthtransistor T4 may be coupled to the i−1^(th) scan line Si−1. When a scansignal is supplied to the i−1^(th) scan line Si−1, the fourth transistorT4 is turned on to supply the voltage of the initialization power supplyVint to the first node N1. The initialization power supply Vint may beset to a voltage lower than that of a data signal.

The fifth transistor T5 may be coupled between the first power supplyELVDD and the source electrode of the first transistor T1. A gateelectrode of the fifth transistor T5 may be coupled to the i^(th)emission control line Ei. The fifth transistor T5 may be turned off whenan emission control signal is supplied to the i^(th) emission controlline Ei, and may be turned on otherwise.

The sixth transistor T6 may be coupled between the drain electrode ofthe first transistor T1 and the anode electrode of the light emittingelement OLED. A gate electrode of the sixth transistor T6 may be coupledto the i^(th) emission control line Ei. The sixth transistor T6 may beturned off when an emission control signal is supplied to the i^(th)emission control line Ei, and may be turned on otherwise.

The seventh transistor T7 may be coupled between the initializationpower supply Vint and the anode electrode of the light emitting deviceOLED. A gate electrode of the seventh transistor T7 is coupled to thei+i^(th) scan line Si+1. When a scan signal is supplied to the i+1^(th)scan line Si+1, the seventh transistor T7 is turned on to supply thevoltage of the initialization power supply Vint to the anode electrodeof the light emitting element OLED.

The storage capacitor Cst may be coupled between the first power supplyELVDD and the first node N1. The storage capacitor Cst may store avoltage corresponding to a data signal and a threshold voltage of thefirst transistor T1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the display panel DP ofFIG. 3 according to an exemplary embodiment.

In FIG. 6, exemplarily illustrates cross sections of portionscorresponding to only the second and sixth transistors among the firstto seventh transistors shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, the display panel DP according to anexemplary embodiment may include a substrate SUB, a pixel circuit layerPCL, a display element layer DPL, and a thin film encapsulation layerTFE.

The substrate SUB may include an insulating material such as glass, anorganic polymer, or crystal. Furthermore, the substrate SUB may includea material having flexibility so as to be bendable or foldable, and havea single- or multi-layer structure.

The pixel circuit layer PCL may include a buffer layer BFL, second andsixth transistors T2 and T6, and a passivation layer PSV.

The buffer layer BFL may be provided on the substrate SUB and preventimpurities from diffusing into the second or sixth transistor T2 or T6.The buffer layer BFL may be provided in a single-layer structure or amulti-layer structure having at least two or more layers. In someexemplary embodiments, the buffer layer BFL may be omitted depending onthe material of the substrate SUB or processing conditions.

Each of the second and sixth transistors T2 and T6 may include asemiconductor layer SCL, a gate electrode GE, a source electrode SE, anda drain electrode DE.

The semiconductor layer SCL of each of the second and sixth transistorsT2 and T6 may be disposed on the buffer layer BFL. The semiconductorlayer SCL may include first and second areas contacting the sourceelectrode SE and the drain electrode DE, respectively. An area betweenthe first area and the second area may be a channel area. In anexemplary embodiment, the first area may be any one of a source area anda drain area, and the second area may be the other one of the sourcearea and the drain area.

The semiconductor layer SCL may be a semiconductor pattern formed ofpolysilicon, amorphous silicon, an oxide semiconductor, etc. The channelarea may be an intrinsic semiconductor pattern undoped with impurities.Each of the first and second areas may be a semiconductor pattern dopedwith impurities, such as n-type impurities, p-type impurities, or othermetals.

The gate electrode GE of each of the second and sixth transistors T2 andT6 may be disposed on the semiconductor layer SCL with a gate insulatinglayer GI interposed therebetween.

The source electrode SE of each of the second and sixth transistors T2and T6 may make contact with any one of the first area and the secondarea of the corresponding semiconductor layer SCL through a contact holepassing through an interlayer insulating layer ILD and the gateinsulating layer GI. For example, the source electrode SE of the secondtransistor T2 may be in contact with the first area of the correspondingsemiconductor layer SCL through a first contact hole CH1 passing throughthe interlayer insulating layer ILD and the gate insulating layer GI.The source electrode SE of the sixth transistor T6 may be in contactwith the first area of the corresponding semiconductor SCL through athird contact hole CH3 passing through the interlayer insulating layerILD and the gate insulating layer GI.

The drain electrode DE of each of the second and sixth transistors T2and T6 may be in contact with the other one of the first area and thesecond area of the corresponding semiconductor layer SCL through acontact hole passing through the interlayer insulating layer ILD and thegate insulating layer GI. For example, the drain electrode DE of thesecond transistor T2 may be in contact with the second area of thecorresponding semiconductor layer SCL through a second contact hole CH2passing through the interlayer insulating layer ILD and the gateinsulating layer GI. The drain electrode DE of the sixth transistor T6may be in contact with the second area of the correspondingsemiconductor SCL through a fourth contact hole CH4 passing through theinterlayer insulating layer ILD and the gate insulating layer GI.

In an exemplary embodiment, each of the interlayer insulating layer ILDand the gate insulating layer GI may be formed of an inorganicinsulating layer including inorganic material, or an organic insulatinglayer including organic material.

The passivation layer PSV may be provided on the second and sixthtransistors T2 and T6 to cover the second and sixth transistors T2 andT6. The passivation layer PSV may include a fifth contact hole CH5through which a portion of the drain electrode DE of the sixthtransistor T6 is exposed.

The display element layer DPL may include a light emitting element OLEDdisposed on the passivation layer PSV to emit light.

The light emitting element OLED may include first and second electrodesAE and CE, and an emission layer EML disposed between the two electrodesAE and CE. Any one of the first and second electrodes AE and CE may bean anode electrode, and the other one may be a cathode electrode. Forexample, the first electrode AE may be an anode electrode, and thesecond electrode CE may be a cathode electrode. When the light emittingelement OLED is to formed as a top-emission type organic light-emittingdiode, the first electrode AE may be a reflective electrode, and thesecond electrode CE may be a transmissive electrode. According to theillustrated exemplary embodiment, the light emitting element OLED is atop-emission type organic light-emitting diode and the first electrodeAE is an anode electrode.

The first electrode AE may be electrically coupled to the drainelectrode DE of the sixth transistor T6 through the fifth contact holeCH5 passing through the passivation layer PSV. The first electrode AEmay include a reflective layer which may reflect light, and atransparent conductive layer disposed on or under the reflective layer.At least one of the transparent conductive layer and the reflectivelayer may be electrically coupled to the drain electrode DE of the sixthtransistor T6.

The display element layer DPL may further include a pixel define layerPDL having an opening OP, which exposes a portion of the first electrodeAE, e.g., an upper surface of the first electrode AE.

Each of the pixels PXL disposed on the display panel DP may be disposedin a pixel area on a planar surface of the display panel DP. In anexemplary embodiment, the pixel area may include an emission area EMAand a non-emission area NEMA provided adjacent to the emission area EMA.The non-emission area NEMA may enclose the emission area EMA. Theemission area EMA may be defined to correspond to the portion of thefirst electrode AE that is exposed through the opening OP.

The display element layer DPL may include a hole control layer HCL andan electron control layer ECL.

The hole control layer HCL may be disposed in common in the emissionarea EMA and the non-emission area NEMA. The hole control layer HCL maybe formed in common in the plurality of pixels PXL as a common layer.

The emission layer EML may be disposed on the hole control layer HCL.The emission layer EML may be disposed in an area corresponding to theopening OP. In particular, the emission layer EML may be separatelyprovided for each of the plurality of pixels PXL. The emission layer EMLmay include organic material and/or inorganic material. FIG. 6 showsthat the emission layer EML is patterned to correspond to a pixel,however, the inventive concepts are not limited thereto. For example,the emission layer EML may be provided in common for the pixels PXL. Thecolor of light generated from the emission layer EML may be one of red,green, blue and white, but the inventive concepts are not limitedthereto. For example, the color of light generated from the emissionlayer EML may be one of magenta, cyan, and yellow.

An electron control layer ECL may be disposed on the emission layer EML.The electron control layer ECL may be provided in common for the pixelsPXL and may o inject and/or transport electrons to the emission layerEML.

The second electrode CE may be disposed on the electron control layerECL. The second electrode CE may be provided in common for the pixelsPXL.

The thin film encapsulation layer TFE may be disposed on the secondelectrode CE to cover the second electrode CE.

The thin film encapsulation layer TFE may be have a single layer, or amulti-layer structure. The thin film encapsulation layer TFE may includea plurality of insulating layers covering the light emitting elementOLED. In particular, the thin film encapsulation layer TFE may includeat least one inorganic layer and at least one organic layer. Forexample, the thin film encapsulation layer TFE may be formed byalternately stacking the inorganic layers and the organic layers. Insome exemplary embodiments, the thin film encapsulation layer TFE may bean encapsulation substrate which is disposed on the light emittingelement OLED and joined to the substrate SUB by a sealant.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the touch sensor TS ofFIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, the touch sensor TS according to an exemplaryembodiment may include a first conductive pattern CP1, a firstinsulating layer IL1, a second conductive pattern CP2, and a secondinsulating layer IL2.

The first conductive pattern CP1 may be directly disposed on the thinfilm encapsulation layer TFE of the display panel DP, but the inventiveconcepts are not limited thereto. In an exemplary embodiment, anotherinorganic insulating layer may be disposed between the first conductivepattern CP1 and the thin film encapsulation layer TFE. In this case, thefirst conductive pattern CP1 may be directly disposed on the inorganicinsulating layer.

Each of the first and second conductive patterns CP1 and CP2 may have asingle-layer structure or a multi-layer structure in which a pluralityof layers are stacked in a thickness direction. A conductive patternhaving a single-layer structure may include a metal layer or atransparent conductive layer. The metal layer may include molybdenum,silver, titanium, copper, aluminum, or an alloy thereof. The transparentconductive layer may include transparent conductive oxide such as indiumtin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), or indiumtin zinc oxide (ITZO). In addition, the transparent conductive layer mayinclude PEDOT, metal nanowires, or graphene.

A conductive pattern having a multi-layer structure may include multiplemetal layers. The multiple metal layers may form a three-layer structurehaving a titanium/aluminum/titanium layer structure, for example. Insome exemplary embodiments, the conductive pattern having a multi-layerstructure may include a single metal layer and a transparent conductivelayer. In some exemplary embodiments, the conductive pattern having amulti-layer structure may include multiple metal layers and atransparent conductive layer.

In an exemplary embodiment, each of the first and second conductivepatterns CP1 and CP2 may include touch electrodes and sensing lines.

Each of the first and second insulating layers IL1 and IL2 may includean inorganic insulating layer including inorganic material, or anorganic insulating layer including organic material. The inorganicinsulating layer may include at least one of aluminum oxide, titaniumoxide, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, zirconiumoxide, and hafnium oxide. The organic insulating layer may include atleast one of acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, polyisoprene, vinyl-basedresin, epoxy-based resin, urethane-based resin, cellulose-based resin,siloxane-based resin, polyimide-based resin, polyamide-based resin, andperylene-based resin.

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of the touch sensor TS of FIG. 1according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 9 is a schematic enlargedplan view of portion EA1 of FIG. 8 according to an exemplary embodiment.FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ andalong line II-II′ of FIG. 9 according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG.11A is a sectional view schematically illustrating an example of portionEA2 of FIG. 10. FIGS. 11B and 11C are cross-sectional views of thesecond insulating layer of FIG. 11A according to exemplary embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 10, 11A, 11B, and 11C, the touch sensor TSaccording to an exemplary embodiment may include a base layer BSLincluding a sensing area SA and a non-sensing area NSA.

The sensing area SA may overlap with the display area DA of the displaypanel DP and have substantially the same shape as that of the displayarea DA. The non-sensing area NSA may overlap with the non-display areaNDA of the display panel DP.

A plurality of touch electrodes TE may be provided in the sensing areaSA. A plurality of sensing lines SL coupling the touch electrodes TE toa pad unit may be provided in the non-sensing area NSA. The pad unit mayinclude a plurality of pads SL_PD. Each of the pads SL_PD may beelectrically coupled to the corresponding touch electrode TE through thecorresponding sensing linen SL.

The touch electrodes TE may include a plurality of first touchelectrodes TE1 extending in a first direction DR1, and a plurality ofsecond touch electrodes TE2, which are electrically insulated from thefirst touch electrodes TE1 and extend in a second direction DR2intersecting the first direction DR1. The touch electrodes TE mayinclude a first bridge pattern BRP1 electrically and/or physicallycoupling adjacent first touch electrodes TE1 to each other, and a secondbridge pattern BRP2 electrically and/or physically coupling adjacentsecond touch electrodes TE2 to each other.

Each of the first and second touch electrodes TE1 and TE2 may beelectrically coupled to a corresponding one of the pads SL_PD through acorresponding one of the sensing lines SL.

The sensing lines SL may include a plurality of first sensing lines SL1coupled to the first touch electrodes TE1, and a plurality of sensinglines SL2 coupled to the second touch electrodes TE2. In an exemplaryembodiment, each of the first touch electrodes TE1 may receive a drivingsignal for touch sensing through the corresponding first sensing lineSL1. Each of the second touch electrodes TE2 may transmit a touchsensing signal through the corresponding second sensing line SL2.However, the inventive concepts are not limited thereto. For example,each of the second touch electrodes TE2 may receive a driving signal fortouch sensing through the corresponding second sensing line SL2, andeach of the first touch electrodes TE1 may transmit a touch sensingsignal through the corresponding first sensing line SL1.

In an exemplary embodiment, the touch sensor TS may recognize a touch ofa user by sensing a change in mutual capacitance formed between thefirst touch electrodes TE1 and the second touch electrodes TE2, as isknown in the art.

The touch sensor TS according to an exemplary embodiment may include afirst conductive pattern (refer to CP1 of FIG. 7) provided on the baselayer BSL, a first insulating layer IL1 provided on the first conductivepattern CP1, a second conductive pattern (refer to CP2 of FIG. 7)provided on the first insulating layer IL1, and a second insulatinglayer IL2 covering the second conductive pattern CP2.

The base layer BSL may be provided on the thin film encapsulation layer(refer to TFE of FIG. 7) of the display panel DP. The base layer BSL mayinclude an organic insulating layer including organic material, or aninorganic insulating layer including inorganic material. In an exemplaryembodiment, the base layer BSL may include a material having flexibilityso as to be bendable or foldable, and may have a single- or multi-layerstructure. The touch sensor TS may be coupled with the display panel DPto display an image and provide a touch screen function. The touchsensor TS may have transparency to allow light to pass therethrough.

In an exemplary embodiment, the base layer BSL may be an uppermost layerof the thin film encapsulation layer TFE of the display panel DP. Forexample, the base layer BSL may be an inorganic insulating layer (or aninorganic layer), that is the uppermost layer of the thin filmencapsulation layer TFE. In some exemplary embodiments, the base layerBSL may be an additional inorganic layer (or an additional inorganicbuffer layer) disposed on the thin film encapsulation layer TFE. Forexample, the base layer BSL may include a silicon nitride layer, asilicon oxynitride layer, a silicon oxide layer, a titanium oxide layer,or an aluminum oxide layer.

The first conductive pattern CP1 may be directly disposed on the baselayer BSL. In an exemplary embodiment, the first conductive pattern CP1may be disposed to overlap with the pixel define layer (refer to PDL ofFIG. 6).

The first conductive pattern CP1 may include first touch electrodes TE1,second touch electrodes TE2, and a first bridge pattern BRP1.

The first conductive pattern CP1 may include a conductive material. Theconductive material may include transparent conductive oxide or metal.Also, the first conductive pattern CP1 may include a plurality ofstacked metal layers. Examples of the conductive oxide may includeindium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), antimony zinc oxide(AZO), indium tin zinc oxide (ITZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), and tin oxide(SnO₂). Examples of the metal may include copper, silver, gold,platinum, palladium, nickel, tin, aluminum, cobalt, rhodium, iridium,iron, ruthenium, osmium, manganese, molybdenum, tungsten, niobium,tantalum, titanium, bismuth, antimony, and lead. The first conductivepattern CP1 may have a single- or multi-layer structure.

The first insulating layer IL1 may be disposed on the first conductivepattern CP1. The first insulating layer IL1 may include the samematerial as that of the base layer BSL, but the inventive concepts arenot limited thereto. In an exemplary embodiment, the first insulatinglayer IL1 may include an organic insulating layer including organicmaterial, or an inorganic insulating layer including inorganic material.

The second conductive pattern CP2 may include a single conductivematerial layer or a plurality of stacked conductive material layers, insubstantially the same manner as that of the first conductive patternCP1. The second conductive pattern CP2 may include a second bridgepattern BRP2 provided on the first insulating layer IL1.

The second insulating layer IL2 may be disposed on the first insulatinglayer IL1 on which the second conductive pattern CP2 is disposed. Thesecond insulating layer IL2 may prevent the second conductive patternCP2 from being exposed to the outside, thus preventing the secondconductive pattern CP2 from being corroded. The second insulating layerIL2 may be formed of an organic insulating layer including an organicmaterial. The organic material may include one of acryl, polyimide (PI),polyamide (PA), and benzocyclobutene (BCB). The second insulating layerIL2 formed of an organic insulating layer may be transparent andflexible, and mitigate unevenness of a lower structure provided underthe second insulating layer IL2 and planarize an upper surface of thelower structure.

The first bridge pattern BRP1 and the first and second touch electrodesTE1 and TE2 have been described as being included in the firstconductive pattern CP1, and the second bridge pattern BRP2 has beendescribed as being included in the second conductive pattern CP2according to an exemplary embodiment. However, the inventive conceptsare not limited thereto. In some exemplary embodiments, the secondbridge pattern BRP2 may be included in the first conductive pattern CP1,and the first bridge pattern BRP1 and the first and second touchelectrodes TE1 and TE2 may be included in the second conductive patternCP2. In other words, the second bridge pattern BRP2 may be formed and/ordisposed on the base layer BSL, and the first bridge pattern BRP1 andthe first and second touch electrodes TE1 and TE2 may be formed and/ordisposed on the first insulating layer IL1.

Furthermore, the first conductive pattern CP1 has been described asbeing disposed on the base layer BSL, and the second conductive patternCP2 has been described as being disposed on the first insulating layerIL1 according to an exemplary embodiment. However, the inventiveconcepts are not limited thereto. In some exemplary embodiments, thefirst conductive pattern CP1 may be disposed on the first insulatinglayer IL1, and the second conductive pattern CP2 may be disposed on thebase layer BSL.

In addition, the first and second touch electrodes TE1 and TE2 have beendescribed as being provided on the same layer, but the inventiveconcepts are not limited thereto. In some exemplary embodiments, thefirst touch electrodes TE1 and the second touch electrodes TE2 may beprovided on different layers.

In an exemplary embodiment, each of the first and second touchelectrodes TE1 and TE2 may include a plurality of conductive fine linesCFL. For example, each of the first and second touch electrodes TE1 andTE2 may include a plurality of first conductive fine lines CFL1, whichextend substantially in an oblique direction with respect to the firstdirection DR1 and are substantially parallel to each other, and aplurality of second conductive fine lines CFL2 which substantiallyextend in an oblique direction with respect to the second direction DR2and are substantially parallel to each other. Due to the firstconductive fine lines CFL1 and the second conductive fine lines CFL2,each of the first and second touch electrodes TE1 and TE2 may have amesh structure. The mesh structure may include a plurality of meshopenings MH, e.g., regions formed by intersecting the first and secondconductive fine lines CFL1 and CFL2 with each other.

When each of the first and second touch electrodes TE1 and TE2 has amesh structure, the surface area of an overlapping portion of each ofthe first and second touch electrodes TE1 and TE2 may be reduced by themesh openings MH. In this manner, the parasitic capacitance of the firstand second touch electrodes TE1 and TE2 with the electrodes of thedisplay panel DP may be reduced.

In an exemplary embodiment, each of the first bridge patterns BRP1 mayinclude a plurality of first-bridge-pattern-related conductive finelines BRP1_CFL. Each of the second bridge patterns BRP2 may include aplurality of second-bridge-pattern-related conductive fine linesBRP2_CFL.

For example, the first-bridge-pattern-related conductive fine linesBRP1_CFL may include a plurality of first-bridge-pattern-related firstconductive fine lines BRP1_CFL1, which extend substantially in anoblique direction with respect to the first direction DR1 and aresubstantially parallel to each other, and a plurality offirst-bridge-pattern-related second conductive fine lines BRP1_CFL2,which substantially extend in an oblique direction with respect to thesecond direction DR2 and are substantially parallel to each other. Dueto the first-bridge-pattern-related first conductive fine linesBRP1_CFL1 and the first-bridge-pattern-related second conductive finelines BRP1_CFL2, each of the first bridge patterns BRP1 may have a meshstructure, which may include a plurality of mesh openings MH, e.g.,regions formed by intersecting the first-bridge-pattern-related firstconductive fine lines BRP1_CFL1 and the first-bridge-pattern-relatedsecond conductive fine lines BRP1_CFL2 with each other.

Furthermore, the second-bridge-pattern-related conductive fine linesBRP2_CFL may include a plurality of second-bridge-pattern-related firstconductive fine lines BRP2_CFL1, which extend substantially in anoblique direction with respect to the first direction DR1 and aresubstantially parallel to each other, and a plurality ofsecond-bridge-pattern-related second conductive fine lines BRP2_CFL2,which substantially extend in an oblique direction with respect to thesecond direction DR2 and are substantially parallel to each other. Dueto the second-bridge-pattern-related first conductive fine linesBRP2_CFL1 and the second-bridge-pattern-related second conductive finelines BRP2_CFL2, each of the second bridge patterns BRP2 may have a meshstructure, which may include a plurality of mesh openings MH, e.g.,regions formed by intersecting the second-bridge-pattern-related firstconductive fine lines BRP2_CFL1 and the second-bridge-pattern-relatedsecond conductive fine lines BRP2_CFL2 with each other.

The second-bridge-pattern-related first and second conductive fine linesBRP2_CFL1 and BRP2_CFL2 may be provided on the first insulating layerIL1 and be electrically and/or physically coupled to the conductive finelines CFL of the second touch electrodes TE2 through a through hole THpassing through the first insulating layer IL1. In this manner, secondtouch electrodes TE2 that are disposed adjacent to each other along thesecond direction DR2 may be coupled to each other.

The touch sensor TS may further include a plurality of dummy electrodesDME disposed between the first and second touch electrodes TE1 and TE2in the sensing area SA on the base layer BSL. In an exemplaryembodiment, the dummy electrodes DME may be disposed on the base layerBSL, but the inventive concepts are not limited thereto. In someexemplary embodiments, the dummy electrodes DME may be disposed on thefirst insulating layer IL1.

Each of the dummy electrodes DME may include a plurality of dummy finelines DFL. For example, each dummy electrode DME may include a firstdummy fine line DFL1 which extends substantially in an oblique directionwith respect to the first direction DR1, and second dummy fine linesDFL2 which extends substantially in an oblique direction with respect tothe second direction DR2 and are substantially parallel to each other.Each of the dummy electrodes DME may have a mesh structure including thedummy fine lines DFL, which may include a plurality of dummy meshopenings DMH, e.g., areas formed by intersecting the first and seconddummy fine lines DFL1 and DFL2 with each other.

When each of the dummy electrodes DME has a mesh structure, the surfacearea of an overlapping portion between the dummy electrodes DME may bereduced by the dummy mesh openings DMH. As such, the parasiticcapacitance of the dummy electrodes DME with the electrodes of thedisplay panel DP may be reduced.

The dummy electrodes DME may be formed through substantially the sameprocess as that for forming the first and second touch electrodes TE1and TE2. As such, in some exemplary embodiments, the dummy electrodesDME may include substantially the same material and substantially thesame stacked structure as those of the first and second touch electrodesTE1 and TE2.

In an exemplary embodiment, the dummy electrodes DME are floatingelectrodes and are not electrically coupled with the first touchelectrodes TE1 and the second touch electrodes TE2. The dummy electrodesDME may reduce the visibility of a boundary area between the first touchelectrodes TE1 and the second touch electrodes TE2.

The first insulating layer IL1 may be disposed on the dummy electrodesDME, and the second insulating layer IL2 may be disposed on the firstinsulating layer IL1.

The second insulating layer IL2 may be divided into a planar part FP anda depressed part HP. The depressed part HP may be provided to correspondto an area between the dummy electrodes DME. The planar part FP may beprovided in areas, other than the depressed part HP, e.g., in areascorresponding to the dummy electrodes DME, the first and second touchelectrodes TE1 and TE2, and the first and second bridge patterns BRP1and BRP2.

The planar part FP of the second insulating layer IL2 may function as aplanarization layer for mitigating a step difference formed by the touchelectrodes TE, the first and second bridge patterns BRP1 and BRP2, andthe dummy electrodes DME.

The depressed part HP of the second insulating layer IL2 may include atleast one discontinuous pattern, such as uneven pattern RP correspondingto the area defined between the dummy electrodes DME. As used herein,“discontinuous pattern” encompasses all types of surface modifications,whether formed by the same or different shaped discontinuities in asurface, and whether the discontinuities repeat at regular or irregularintervals. In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 11A, theuneven pattern RP may correspond to an area A defined between two seconddummy fine lines DFL2 spaced apart from each other by a predetermineddistance. The uneven pattern RP may be recessed from a first surface(e.g., an upper surface) of the second insulating layer IL2 toward asecond surface (e.g., a lower surface) of the second insulating layerIL2 that faces the two second dummy fine lines DFL2.

The uneven pattern RP may have a predetermined width and height, but theinventive concepts are not limited thereto. For example, the unevenpattern RP may have a random shape. In an exemplary embodiment, theuneven pattern RP may be formed and/or provided through an etchingprocess using a mask after an insulating material layer has been appliedto a front surface of the base layer BSL including the second bridgepattern BRP2.

As illustrated in FIG. 11A, the uneven pattern RP may have asubstantially semi-elliptical shape including a reversed Gaussian shape,but the inventive concepts are not limited to a particular shape of theuneven pattern RP. For example, as shown in FIG. 11B, the uneven patternRP may have a substantially rectangular shape, which is recessed with aconstant width from the first surface of the second insulating layer IL2toward the second surface thereof. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 11C,the uneven pattern RP may have a substantially polygonal shape, whichhas a decreasing width from the first surface of the second insulatinglayer IL2 toward the second surface thereof. As a further alternative,the uneven pattern RP may have a substantially polygonal shape, whichhas an increasing width from the first surface of the second insulatinglayer IL2 toward the second surface thereof.

As described above, the inventive concepts are not limited to aparticular shape of the uneven pattern RP, and the uneven pattern RP mayhave various shapes including a circular shape, a conical shape, etc. insome exemplary embodiments.

The uneven pattern RP may have a width W ranging from 0 μm to 5 μm, butthe inventive concepts are not limited thereto. In some exemplaryembodiments, the width W of the uneven pattern RP may be equal to orless than the distance of the area A between two second dummy fine linesDFL2 disposed adjacent to each other. Furthermore, the uneven pattern RPmay have a depth “d” ranging from 0 μm to 5 μm, but the inventiveconcepts are not limited thereto. More particularly, in an exemplaryembodiment, the uneven pattern RP may be recessed from the first surfaceof the second insulating layer IL2 toward the second surface thereof tohave a depth “d” that corresponds to about a half of the thickness “t”of the second insulating layer IL2, in consideration of the reliabilityof the second insulating layer IL2.

The second insulating layer IL2 may be formed to have at least apredetermined thickness to form the uneven pattern RP therein. Forexample, the second insulating layer IL2 may have a thickness “t”ranging from about 4.0 μm to about 5.0 μm, but the inventive conceptsare not limited thereto. For example, the second insulating layer IL2may have at least a predetermined thickness to a degree that may notunnecessarily increase the thickness (or the weight) of the touch sensorTS.

As described above, as the second insulating layer IL2 includes theuneven pattern RP, the second insulating layer IL2 may have an irregularrough surface, e.g., an uneven surface, in an area corresponding to thearea A defined between the second dummy fine lines DFL2. In this case,external light incident on the touch sensor TS, particularly in the areaA defined between the two second dummy fine lines DFL2 spaced apart fromeach other by a predetermined distance, may be reflected from edges (orside surfaces) of the second dummy fine lines DFL2 toward the unevenpattern RP and be irregularly reflected by the uneven pattern RP.

Each of the edges (or the side surfaces) of the second dummy fine linesDFL2 are illustrated as having an inclination angle of 90° in a verticaldirection with respect to the base layer BSL, the inventive concepts arenot limited thereto. For example, at least some of the second dummy finelines DFL2 may have tapered edges (or tapered side surfaces).

The irregular reflection of external light generated in the area Adefined between the second dummy fine lines DFL2 may be removed bydestructive interference with external light reflection generated on thetouch electrodes TE. Hence, in the display device DD according to anexemplary embodiment, the reflectivity of external light may be reducedand the dummy electrodes DME may not be visible from the outside, andthus, increasing the reliability of the display device DD.

In particular, external light incident on the touch sensor TS may bereflected by the touch electrodes TE, the first and second bridgepatterns BRP1 and BRP2, etc. that are disposed in the sensing area SA.The external light reflected by the components, such as the touchelectrodes TE, and the first and second bridge patterns BRP1 and BRP2may travel in a direction that is invisible to the eyes of the user,because the reflection of the external light on the components isspecular reflection (or regular reflection, in which incident light isreflected at the same angle to the surface normal as the incidentlight).

Furthermore, if external light is incident on the area A defined betweenthe two second dummy fine lines DFL2 spaced apart from each other by apredetermined distance, the external light may be reflected insubstantially the same direction as the incident angle by the edges ofthe second dummy fine lines DFL2 and travel toward the uneven pattern RPof the second insulating layer IL2. In this case, the external light maybe irregularly reflected by the uneven pattern RP of the secondinsulating layer IL2 and travel in directions that are invisible to theeyes of the user, or the irregular reflection of the external light maybe removed by destructive interference with external light reflected bythe touch electrodes TE and the first and second bridge patterns BRP1and BRP2.

As such, in the display device DD according to exemplary embodiments ofthe invention, the reflectivity of external light may be reduced and theprobability of the dummy electrodes DME from being seen to the user emay be substantially reduced, thereby improving the reliability of thedisplay device DD.

In addition, as described above, since the second insulating layer IL2including the uneven pattern RP has at least a predetermined thickness“t”, the components disposed thereunder, such as the touch electrodesTE, the first and second bridge patterns BRP1 and BRP2, and the dummyelectrodes DME may be prevented from being affected by external impactor the like.

Furthermore, the second insulating layer IL2 including the unevenpattern RP may minimize a flexural failure in the touch sensor TS thatmay occur when the touch sensor TS is folded to apply stress thereto,and thus, enhancing the impact resistance characteristics of the touchsensor TS.

In some exemplary embodiments, a polarizing film may be provided on thetouch sensor TS. The polarizing film may have a polarization axis andlinearly polarize light in a direction perpendicular to the polarizationaxis. For example, the polarizing film may absorb rays of light that arealigned with the polarization axis, and allow rays of light that areperpendicular to the polarization axis to pass therethrough. In thismanner, when light passes through the polarizing film, light may belinearly polarized in a direction perpendicular to the polarizationaxis. The window WD may be attached to the polarizing film by anadhesive or the like.

FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of the touch sensor TS of FIG. 1. FIG.13 is a schematic enlarged plan view of portion EA3 of FIG. 12 accordingto an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 14 is a schematic enlarged plan view ofEA4 of FIG. 13 according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 15 is aschematic cross-sectional view taken along line III-III′ and line IV-IV′of FIG. 14.

In FIG. 12, like reference numerals will be used to designatesubstantially the same components as those described with reference toFIG. 8, and thus, repeated descriptions thereof will be omitted to avoidredundancy. Furthermore, the configuration of the touch sensor of FIG.12, other than the shape of each touch electrode and the shape of eachdummy electrode, may be equal or similar to that of the touch sensor ofFIG. 8.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 12 to 15, the touch sensor TS according to anexemplary embodiment may include a base layer BSL including a sensingarea SA and a non-sensing area NSA.

A plurality of touch electrodes TE may be provided in the sensing areaSA. A plurality of sensing lines SL configured to couple the touchelectrodes TE to a pad unit may be provided in the non-sensing area NSA.The pad part may include a plurality of pads SL_PD. Each of the padsSL_PD may be electrically coupled to the corresponding touch electrodeTE through the corresponding sensing line SL.

The touch electrodes TE may include a plurality of first touchelectrodes TE1 extending substantially in a first direction DR1, and aplurality of second touch electrodes TE2 which are electricallyinsulated from the first touch electrodes TE1 and extend substantiallyin a second direction DR2. The touch electrodes TE may includeconductive material. For example, the touch electrodes TE may be formedof transparent conductive oxide, such as indium tin oxide (ITO), indiumzinc oxide (IZO), or indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO). However, theinventive concepts are not limited thereto, and the touch electrodes TEmay be formed of metal, conductive polymers, etc. Alternatively, thetouch electrodes TE may be formed of nanowires including Ag, Cu, Au,etc.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first touch electrodes TE1 may includefirst touch patterns TP1 and first bridge patterns BRP1.

The first touch patterns TP1 may be spaced apart from each other in thefirst direction DR1. Each of the first touch patterns TP1 may have asubstantially rhombohedral shape. However, the inventive concepts arenot limited thereto a particular shape of the first touch patterns TP1,and the first touch pattern TP1 may have various shapes. Each ofboundaries of the first touch patterns TP1 may have a zigzag shape.However, the inventive concepts are not limited thereto a particularshape of the boundaries of the first touch patterns TP1, and theboundary may have various shapes. When each boundary of the first touchpatterns TP1 has a zigzag shape, even when the first touch patterns TP1may be disposed to overlap with the display area of the display panel DP(refer to DA of FIG. 3), effects of the first touch patterns TP1 on thevisibility of an image to be displayed may be reduced.

Each of the first bridge patterns BRP1 may couple two first touchpatterns TP1 that are adjacent to each other in the first direction DR1.The first bridge patterns BRP1 may extend substantially in the firstdirection DR1. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the direction in which thefirst touch patterns TP1 extend may be substantially the same as thedirection in which the first bridge patterns BRP1 extend. The firsttouch patterns TP1 and the first bridge patterns BRP1 may be integrallyformed and/or provided. When the first touch patterns TP1 and the firstbridge patterns BRP1 are integrally formed and/or provided, the firstbridge patterns BRP1 may be regarded as portions of the first touchpatterns TP1. However, the inventive concepts are not limited thereto.For example, in some exemplary embodiments, the first touch patterns TP1and the first bridge patterns BRP1 may be individually formed, andelectrically and/or physically coupled to each other through a contacthole or a via hole.

In an exemplary embodiment, the second touch electrodes TE2 may includesecond touch patterns TP2 and second bridge patterns BRP2.

The second touch patterns TP2 may be spaced apart from each other in thesecond direction DR2 intersecting the first direction DR1. Each of thesecond touch patterns TP2 may have a substantially rhombohedral shape.However, the inventive concepts are not limited thereto, and the secondtouch pattern TP2 may have various shapes. Each of boundaries of thesecond touch patterns TP2 may have a zigzag shape. However, theinventive concepts are not limited thereto, and the boundary may havevarious shapes.

Each of the second bridge patterns BRP2 may couple two second touchpatterns TP2 that are adjacent to each other in the second directionDR2. The second bridge patterns BRP2 may substantially extend in thesecond direction DR2. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the direction in whichthe second touch patterns TP2 extend may be substantially the same asthe direction in which the second bridge patterns BRP2 extend.

Each of the second bridge patterns BRP2 may electrically and/orphysically couple one second touch pattern TP2 of the second touchpatterns TP2 extending substantially in the second direction DR2 withanother second touch pattern TP2 adjacent to the one second touchpattern TP2 through first and second through holes TH1 and TH2. Asillustrated in FIG. 15, the first through hole TH1 may pass through thefirst insulating layer IL1 and expose a portion of one correspondingsecond touch pattern TP2. The second through hole TH2 may pass throughthe first insulating layer IL1 and expose a portion of anothercorresponding second touch pattern TP2.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first bridge patterns BRP1, the firsttouch patterns TP1, and the second touch patterns TP2 may be disposed onthe same layer. The second bridge patterns BRP2 may be disposed on alayer different from the layer on which the first bridge patterns BRP1,the first touch patterns TP1, and the second touch patterns TP2 aredisposed.

In particular, the first bridge patterns BRP1, the first touch patternsTP1, and the second touch patterns TP2 may be disposed on the base layerBSL. The second bridge patterns BRP2 may be disposed on the firstinsulating layer IL1. The second insulating layer IL2 may be formedand/or disposed on the second bridge patterns BRP2. In an exemplaryembodiment, the first bridge patterns BRP1 and the second bridgepatterns BRP2 may be electrically and/or physically insulated from eachother with the first insulating layer IL1 interposed therebetween.

The first bridge patterns BRP1, and the first and second touch patternsTP1 and TP2 have been described as being disposed on the base layer BSL,and the second bridge patterns BRP2 have been described as beingdisposed on the first insulating layer IL1 according to an exemplaryembodiment. However, the inventive concepts are not limited thereto. Insome exemplary embodiments, the second bridge patterns BRP2 may beformed and/or disposed on the base layer BSL, and the first bridgepatterns BRP1 and the first and second touch patterns TP1 and TP2 may beformed and/or disposed on the first insulating layer IL1.

The touch sensor TS may further include a plurality of dummy electrodesDME disposed between the first and second touch patterns TP1 and TP2 inthe sensing area SA on the base layer BSL. The dummy electrodes DME maybe disposed on the base layer BSL, but the inventive concepts are notlimited thereto. In some exemplary embodiments, the dummy electrodes DMEmay be disposed on the first insulating layer IL1.

Each of the dummy electrodes DME may include a plurality of dummypatterns DMP. The dummy patterns DMP may be disposed on the same layeras the first touch patterns TP1 and the second touch patterns TP2. Thedummy patterns DMP may be electrically floated. The dummy patterns DMPmay be provided to prevent the first touch patterns TP1 and the secondtouch patterns TP2 from being visible to the user.

In an exemplary embodiment, each of the dummy patterns DMP may bedisposed in the sensing area SA at a position spaced apart from anadjacent dummy pattern DMP by a predetermined distance, and may beelectrically and/or physically separated from the adjacent dummy patternDMP. The dummy patterns DMP may be formed through substantially the sameprocess as that of the first and second touch patterns TP1 and TP2, andthus may include substantially the same material and the same stackedstructure as those of the first and second touch patterns TP1 and TP2.In some exemplary embodiments, each of the dummy patterns DMP may have amesh structure including a plurality of conductive dummy fine lines.

As shown in FIG. 15, the first insulating layer IL1 may be disposed onthe dummy patterns DMP, and the second insulating layer IL2 may bedisposed on the first insulating layer IL1.

The first insulating layer IL1 may be disposed on the dummy pattern DMP.The first insulating layer IL1 may include substantially the samematerial as that of the base layer BSL, but the inventive concepts arenot limited thereto. In some exemplary embodiments, the first insulatinglayer IL1 may include an organic insulating layer including organicmaterial, or an inorganic insulating layer including inorganic material.

The second insulating layer IL2 may be formed and/or disposed on thesecond bridge patterns BRP2 on the first insulating layer IL1. Thesecond insulating layer IL2 may prevent the second bridge patterns BRP2from being exposed to the outside, thus preventing the second bridgepatterns BRP2 from being corroded. The second insulating layer IL2 mayinclude an organic insulating layer made of organic material. Theorganic material may include one of acryl, polyimide (PI), polyamide(PA), and benzocyclobutene (BCB). The second insulating layer IL2 mayinclude an organic insulating layer that may be transparent andflexible, which can mitigate unevenness of a lower structure providedunder the second insulating layer IL2 and planarize an upper surface ofthe lower structure.

In some exemplary embodiments, when the second bridge patterns BRP2 aredisposed on the base layer BSL, and the first bridge pattern BRP1 andthe first and second touch patterns TP1 and TP2 are disposed on thefirst insulating layer IL1, the second insulating layer IL2 may beformed and/or provided on the first bridge pattern BRP1 and the firstand second touch patterns TP1 and TP2.

In an exemplary embodiment, the second insulating layer IL2 may bedivided into a planar part FP and a depressed part HP. The depressedpart HP may be provided to correspond to an area defined between thedummy patterns DMP. The planar part FP may be provided in remainingareas, such as areas corresponding to the dummy patterns DMP, the firstand second touch patterns TP1 and TP2, and the first and second bridgepatterns BRP1 and BRP2.

The planar part FP of the second insulating layer IL2 may function as aplanarization layer for mitigating a step difference formed by the firstand second touch patterns TP1 and TP2, the first and second bridgepatterns BRP1 and BRP2, and the dummy patterns DMP.

The depressed part HP of the second insulating layer IL2 may include atleast one uneven pattern RP corresponding to the area defined betweenthe dummy patterns DMP. In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 15, the uneven pattern RP may correspond to an area B definedbetween two second dummy patterns DMP spaced apart from each other by apredetermined distance. The uneven pattern RP may have be recessed froman upper surface of the second insulating layer IL2 toward a lowersurface of the second insulating layer IL2 that faces the dummy patternsDMP.

The uneven pattern RP may have a predetermined width and height, andhave various shapes, such as a substantially semi-elliptical shape, acircular shape, a polygonal shape, a conical shape, etc.

As described above, as the second insulating layer IL2 includes theuneven pattern RP, the second insulating layer IL2 may have an irregularrough surface, e.g., an uneven surface, in an area corresponding to thearea B defined between the second dummy patterns DMP. In this manner,external light incident on the touch sensor TS, more particularly, inthe area B defined between the two second dummy patterns DMP spacedapart from each other by the predetermined distance, may be irregularlyreflected by the uneven pattern RP.

The irregular reflection of external light generated in the area B,which is defined between the second dummy patterns DMP spaced apart fromeach other by the predetermined distance, may be removed by destructiveinterference with external light reflection generated on the touchelectrodes TE. Hence, in the display device DD in accordance with anexemplary embodiment, the reflectivity of external light may be reducedto significantly reduce the probability of the dummy patterns DMP beingvisible to the outside, thereby improving the reliability of the displaydevice DD.

According to the principles and exemplary embodiments of the invention atouch sensor and a display device including the same have an insulatinglayer including at least one uneven pattern formed in an area definedbetween dummy patterns, to improve the reliability of the touch sensor.

Although certain exemplary embodiments and implementations have beendescribed herein, other embodiments and modifications will be apparentfrom this description. Accordingly, the inventive concepts are notlimited to such embodiments, but rather to the broader scope of theappended claims and various obvious modifications and equivalentarrangements as would be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in theart.

What is claimed is:
 1. A touch sensor comprising: a base layer includinga sensing area and a non-sensing area; a plurality of touch electrodesdisposed in the sensing area; a dummy electrode disposed between thetouch electrodes, the dummy electrode comprising a plurality of dummypatterns spaced apart from each other; and an insulating layer disposedon the touch electrodes and the dummy electrode, wherein the insulatinglayer includes at least one discontinuous pattern in an area disposedbetween adjacent dummy patterns.
 2. The touch sensor according to claim1, wherein the discontinuous pattern comprises an uneven patternrecessed from a first surface of the insulating layer toward the baselayer.
 3. The touch sensor according to claim 2, wherein the unevenpattern extends to about half of a thickness of the insulating layer orless from the first surface of the insulating layer.
 4. The touch sensoraccording to claim 3, wherein a width of the uneven pattern is aboutequal to or less than a distance between the adjacent dummy patterns. 5.The touch sensor according to claim 4, wherein: the dummy electrode isdisposed on a planar surface; and the uneven pattern is configured toirregularly reflect light incident on a first area between the adjacentdummy patterns.
 6. The touch sensor according to claim 2, wherein theinsulating layer is substantially flat in areas other than the areaincluding the uneven pattern.
 7. The touch sensor according to claim 2,wherein the touch electrodes comprise: a first touch electrode includingfirst touch patterns and first bridge patterns coupling the first touchpatterns to each other; and a second touch electrode including secondtouch patterns and second bridge patterns coupling the second touchpatterns to each other.
 8. The touch sensor according to claim 7,wherein: the first touch patterns and the second touch patterns aredisposed on the same layer, and any one of the first bridge patterns andthe second bridge patterns are disposed on the same layer as the firsttouch patterns; and the first bridge patterns and the second bridgepatterns intersect with each other with an interlayer insulating layerinterposed therebetween.
 9. The touch sensor according to claim 8,wherein the interlayer insulating layer comprises an organic insulatinglayer including organic material.
 10. The touch sensor according toclaim 8, wherein the dummy electrode is disposed on the same layer asthe first and second touch patterns.
 11. The touch sensor according toclaim 10, wherein each of the touch electrodes and the dummy electrodehas a substantially mesh shape.
 12. The touch sensor according to claim11, wherein the dummy electrode comprises: a first dummy fine lineextending substantially in a first direction; a plurality of seconddummy fine lines extending substantially in a second directionintersecting the first direction, the second dummy fine lines beingsubstantially parallel to each other; and a plurality of dummy meshopenings formed at intersections between the first dummy fine line andthe second dummy fine lines.
 13. A touch sensor comprising: a base layerincluding a sensing area and a non-sensing area; a first touch electrodedisposed in the sensing area and substantially extending in a firstdirection; a second touch electrode including touch patterns spacedapart from each other along a second direction intersecting the firstdirection and a bridge pattern coupling adjacent touch patterns in thesecond direction; a first insulating layer interposed between the bridgepattern and the touch patterns; a dummy electrode disposed between thefirst touch electrode and the touch patterns, the dummy electrodeincluding a plurality of dummy patterns spaced apart from each other;and a second insulating layer disposed on the first touch electrode, thesecond touch electrode, and the dummy electrode, wherein the secondinsulating layer includes at least one discontinuous pattern in an areadisposed between adjacent dummy patterns.
 14. The touch sensor accordingto claim 13, wherein: the dummy electrode is disposed on a planarsurface; the discontinuous pattern comprises an uneven pattern recessedfrom a first surface of the second insulating layer toward the baselayer; and the uneven pattern is configured to irregularly reflect lightincident on an area between the adjacent dummy patterns.
 15. The touchsensor according to claim 14, wherein the dummy electrode includesconductive fine lines intersecting each other and has a substantiallymesh shape.
 16. A display device comprising: a display panel configuredto display an image; and a touch sensor disposed on the display panel,and comprising: a base layer disposed on the display panel, andincluding a sensing area and a non-sensing area; a plurality of touchelectrodes disposed in the sensing area; a dummy electrode disposedbetween the touch electrodes and including a plurality of dummy patternsspaced apart from each other; and an insulating layer disposed on thetouch electrodes and the dummy electrode, and including at least onediscontinuous pattern in an area disposed between adjacent dummypatterns.
 17. The display device according to claim 16, wherein aplurality of discontinuous patterns are formed in the area between theadjacent dummy patterns.
 18. The display device according to claim 16,wherein the discontinuous pattern does not overlap the dummy patterns.19. The display device according to claim 16, wherein: the dummyelectrode is disposed on a planar surface; and the discontinuous patterncomprises an uneven pattern configured to irregularly reflect lightincident on an area between the adjacent dummy patterns to causedestructive interference with light reflected by the touch electrodes.20. The display device according to claim 16, wherein the dummyelectrode has a substantially a mesh shape and is electrically floated.21. The display device according to claim 16, wherein the dummyelectrode is disposed on the same layer as the first and second touchpatterns.
 22. The display device according to claim 16, wherein thetouch electrodes and the dummy electrode each have a mesh shape.
 23. Thedisplay device according to claim 16, wherein the dummy electrodecomprises: a first dummy fine line extending substantially in a firstdirection; a plurality of second dummy fine lines extendingsubstantially in a second direction intersecting the first direction,the plurality of second dummy fine lines being generally parallel toeach other; and a plurality of dummy mesh openings formed byintersecting the first dummy fine line and the second dummy fine lineswith each other.
 24. The display device according to claim 16, whereinthe display panel comprises: a substrate including a display area todisplay the image, and a non-display area provided on at least one sideof the display area; a pixel circuit layer disposed on the substrate,and comprising at least one transistor; a display element layer disposedon the pixel circuit layer, and comprising at least one light emittingelement to emit light; and an encapsulation layer disposed on thedisplay element layer.